LABICHE AND THE FRANCSTIREURS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2459, 14 April 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

LABICHE AND THE FRANCSTIREURS.

The following amusing story of the late, Palais Royal dramatist is given in the London Figaro :—During the FrancoGerman war Labicho retired to his estate near the village of Sauvigny, where he was promptly appointed miilrc. Oue day the übiquitous Uhlans appeared, and riding up to Labicho tho ollicer thins addressed him: "You are nwirc of Sauvigny, monsieur?/ "lain," wns his reply. "Then let me warn you," re- ! umod the Uhlan, " that if yon allow the Fraucs-Tiiours now in tho neighbourhood to entrench themselves in this place I i-hall bo under the painful necessity of horning the village and shooting its uuih-i: !" "But, my dear sir," replied poor Labiehe, " it must surely be clear to you that I, as mrrirc, possess no power to prevent anyone who chooses from entering S iiivigny. Had I possessed such a power," he replied with a smile, "I hardly need assure you that I should have exercised it to prevent >/onr visit, urn!/ Vt.-jnlntue !'' "Quite so," answered the German hussar, pleasantly. "But I am sorry to say that [ shall be obliged to shoot you a if the same it tho.ie FrauesI icent's (hi come here and remain." And

so saying lie put, spurs to his horse and galloped oil' with his men. Now t! 1 c very next morning the dreaded hYancs-Tireurs actually did arrive, and LibL-he, determined to save the village--and himself—if possible, at once set oil'lo pay a visit to the commanding ntiiccr. He had arranged his plan of campaign over night, and as soon as he came in sight of the I'Vaues-Tirciirs' It ader he hurried up to him, embraced iii in warmly, and exclaimed, "All iiU'ii On/fiv', you are come to save us are you not? Kor we are surrounded by hordes of Prussians, let mo tell you. There is not a mail which they do not hold in force, except the one by which you have so luckily arrived this very hour." ■' You are quite sure of this?" asked the officer anxiously. " Positive,'' cried Labich... "Then, // r/cru/, ni'ssicm-*:" exclaimed the Francs-Tireurs' leader curtly, and in less than a quarter of an hour' the whole detachment had left. Sauvigny and was hurrying along the road it had come by as fast, as it could go. .So Sauvigny was not burned by tho Germans and Labiche was not shot, and up to the last it al.vays gave the dramatist exceptional gratification to explain how it was both were savetl, ihanks to his happy thought.